| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the project was to increase healthcare professionals’ knowledge regarding HPV, the vaccine, and communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance. In addition, the purpose was to increase healthcare professionals’ level of comfort in using the communication strategies discussed. The project was also designed to reduce HPV vaccination rates of missed opportunities and increase overall HPV vaccination coverage. The rates of HPV vaccination coverage are significantly lower than other adolescent vaccines. There has been minimal research on the impact of an educational intervention in rural areas. A literature review was performed prior to project design and implementation, which revealed the significance of providing healthcare professional education. An educational intervention was performed in two rural family practice clinics in North Dakota. Post-test questionnaires were collected to evaluate healthcare professional knowledge and comfort using a 5-point Likert scale. HPV vaccination and missed opportunity rates were monitored for two months before and after the intervention. The results of the questionnaire revealed an average Likert score of 3.97 for increased understanding of HPV, the vaccine, and communication strategies. The average Likert score for increased comfort with the new communication strategies was 4.06. The number of missed opportunities at routine exams, including well child and physical exams, was reduced from 32 in the two months prior to implementation of the educational intervention to only 17 in the two months after implementation at one of the rural clinics. No change was noted in overall HPV vaccination rates or missed opportunities. In conclusion, further research is needed to understand the type of education required for reduced HPV vaccination rates and sustainability. Continued research should also evaluate the impact of a multifaceted approach to improve HPV vaccination rates. | en_US |
